Quick Facts
Biography
Richard Costain (1839–1902) was the founder of Costain Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest construction businesses.
Career
Born and brought up in the Isle of Man, Richard Costain moved to Crosby where, in 1865, he founded a small but well-equipped construction business. In the early days of the business, he worked in partnership with William Kneen and together they expanded the business until it was operating both in Lancashire and on the Isle of Man. They bought tracts of land and then built terrace after terrace of houses on them. Masons and joiners were recruited from Arbory on the Isle of Man.
Richard Costain later lived at Blundellsands near Crosby.
He died in West Derby in 1902 leaving the business, by then known as Richard Costain Limited, to his son William Percy Costain.
Family
In 1866, he married Margaret Kneen.